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The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park is one of New Zealand's most spectacular tramping tracks, and is considered the most famous one-day tramp in New Zealand.

The crossing passes (roughly speaking) over the volcanic terrain of the multi-cratered active volcano Mt Tongariro, passing near to the immediately neighbouring Mt Ngauruhoe which can optionally be climbed as a side trip. In the picture you can see the crater of the Tongariro in the front, and the Mt Ngauruhoe in the back.

The walk is renowned for its barren yet beautiful volcanic landscape, unusual geological features, visible volcanic activity and views of the surrounding countryside below.

The crossing takes about seven hours of steady walking, and although it is certainly not extreme, it does require a basic level of fitness. The track begins with a steep 45 minute ascent – the most difficult part of the track – soon after the start. Further, smaller descents and ascents into and back out of two different craters on the mountain add to the total amount of climbing involved. The last 2 hours of the walk involve a prolonged descent down the northern flank of the volcano. The final part of the track is a nice walking through a dense rainforest.

Mount Tongariro and its surroundings are also one of the several locations which Peter Jackson chose to shoot the The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Mount Ngauruhoe was used as a stand-in for the fictional Mount Doom in Peter Jackson's trilogy, achieving worldwide exposure.

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